Britain's Heritage Cities

BATH P3

OXFORD P4 & 5

CARLISLE P6

DURHAM P7

LINCOLN P8

YORK P9

CHESTER P10

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON P11

Rich in great treasures from the past, they offermodern spa hotels, contemporary cuisine, and a livelycultural scene.

Together, they are simply the best of Britain.The classic collection of cities features Bath,

Carlisle, Chester, Durham, Lincoln, Oxford, Stratford-upon-Avon and York.

The elegant eight are magnificent masterpieces intheir own right, and offer unique experiences to suiteveryone.

They are all are well served by air, road and railmaking itinerary planning and visits easy andenjoyable.

Nourished by natural hot springs, Bath offers aunique experience with stunning architecture, greatshopping and iconic attractions.

Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site,Bath presents some of the finest architectural sights inEurope.

Carlisle is ideally located between Scotland and theLake District. Situated on the route of Hadrian's Wall –a UNESCO World Heritage Site - its ancient andturbulent past has given way to a vibrant, culturedcity.

Chester embraces 2000 years of history within themost complete city walls in Britain and its unique two-tier Rows galleries take shopping to another level. Itsmediaeval Mystery Plays return in 2013 for a first-everperformance inside the Cathedral.

Durham’s Cathedral and Castle, a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site, sit high on the peninsula and keep watchover the city streets below and will in 2013 welcomethe visit of the Lindisfarne Gospels.

With a rich heritage and surrounded by stunninglandscapes, Durham is the jewel of the north-east anda destination where you can always stay a little longer.

Lincoln is dominated by arguably Europe's finestcathedral, but there's more to a city break here thansimply heritage and culture. With historic buildings,galleries, craft centres, boutique shops and year-roundevents, Lincoln offers a family-friendly mix of things to do.

Oxford – the city of 'dreaming spires' – offers visitorsa lot more than wonderful buildings. Discover 38colleges each with unique architecture, or take a rivercruise or a punt and explore its extraordinary beauty.

Stratford-upon-Avon - the birthplace of WilliamShakespeare – is steeped in culture and history.Set in the beautiful rural Warwickshire countryside,

on the banks of the river Avon, it’s home to the world-famous Royal Shakespeare Company.

York is the history of Britain in a city.Renowned for its exquisite architecture, tangle of

quaint cobbled streets and the iconic York Minster, thecity is fast developing a flourishing, cutting-edge scene.

Want to know more about Britain’s Heritage Cities?Explore their unique character inside and discover

some great, ready-made itineraries – or see them all atwww.heritagecities.com.

Looking to unlock thebest Britain has to offer?Check into Britain’s Heritage Cities – key destinations for memorable stays.

Follow us on Twitter-@heritagecities

Contents

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www.heritagecities.com

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Britain’s Heritage Cities - Bath 3


Bath’s stunning setting, world class attractions andsuperb range of quality accommodation make it theperfect short break destination at any time of year. Everystep around this ancient city connect you with afascinating past and at the heart of it all are the uniqueRoman Baths, where natural thermal waters still flow asthey did over 2,000 years ago. See the water’s source,and walk where Romans walked along ancient stonepavements.

Head across the road and you’ll discover the 21stcentury answer to the Roman Baths: the Thermae BathSpa. Here, you can bathe in the mineral-rich waters asthe Romans and Celts once did thousands of years ago,in a modern spa complex. The Spa’s piece-de-resistanceis its roof-top pool – open all year round – with stunningviews of the surrounding cityscape.

Bath has a wide variety of museums and galleriescovering all kinds of subjects that you wouldn’t expectincluding the Fashion Museum, the American Museum inBritain and the Herschel Museum of Astronomy. For

exhibitions, there is the newly renovated HolburneMuseum as well as the Victoria Art Gallery and Museumof East Asian Art. There are also lots of attractionsdedicated to Bath’s history – look out for the Building ofBath Collection which tells the story of how Bath wasdesigned and built, No. 1 Royal Crescent showing how atownhouse would have looked in its Georgian heydayand the Jane Austen Centre which celebrates the life andtimes of this famous writer who lived in the city for sixyears, and based two of her novels in Bath.

Yet Bath is not buried in the past! A true city ofFestivals, its year-round calendar of events, theatre andvibrant street entertainment, bring life and excitementto this beautiful city. With festivals celebrating literature,film, food, music – and of course Christmas – there istruly something for everyone. The city is also known forits sporting connections, from Bath Racecourse to BathRugby. Take in a home game at the ‘Rec’ for a trulymemorable experience, set in the most picturesque ofsettings alongside the river and Pulteney Bridge.

Bath is also a celebrated shopping centre, with areputation that goes back to Georgian times. It is oftensaid that Bath has more shops than cities twice its size –and it certainly could be true with a host of designerboutiques and top quality outlets sitting alongside all ofthe essential high street favourites. Don’t miss MilsomStreet, ‘Britain’s Most Fashionable Street’ and theadjacent Milsom Place for designer fashions andcontemporary dining. While the new SouthGatedevelopment blends perfectly with the stunning Batharchitecture to create a 21st century shoppingexperience in a beautiful Georgian setting

To make the most of Bath, there are guided walkingtours, open top bus tours and even balloon flights for a

unique view of the city and surrounding countryside! And if all this leaves you feeling hungry or thirsty

there is a mouth-watering selection of restaurants, pubsand tea shops on every street. Try a local delicacy, theSally Lunn Bun, at the oldest house in Bath, still made tothe original secret recipe, or the Pump Room restaurantwhich offers a delicious menu and a taste of Georgiangrandeur in the heart of the city.

The location of Bath makes it easily accessible – closeto junction 18 of the M4 for drivers, and with a centraltrain station on the main Bristol to London Intercity linefor those arriving by train. Bristol is the closest airport,just 15 miles away, and is one of Britain’s fastestgrowing airports, serving over 110 direct destinations.

Bath – the city built for pleasureThe golden city of Bath has been welcoming visitors for over 2,000years. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site – the onlyentire city in the UK to receive this honour, Bath presents some ofthe finest architectural sights in Europe, including the RoyalCrescent, the Circus and Pulteney Bridge.

www.visitbath.com/groups

Roman Baths

Sally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum

Royal Crescent

Prior Park Landscape Garden Jane Austen’s BathSally Lunn’s Historic Eating House and Museum Jane Austen’s Bath

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4 Britain’s Heritage Cities - Oxford

Whether your groups are culture vultures visiting our historical gems such as Britain'sGreatest palace - Blenheim Palace, Christ Church college or the Ashmolean Museum orthey like to indulge in a spot of retail therapy at Bicester Village - we can provide anarray of activities all year round to keep your groups coming back for more.

If your groups are interested in gardens then look no further. We have an excellentchoice of gardens from the first Botanical Garden in Britain to marvellous landscaping atBlenheim Palace, Stowe and Buscot Park.

If you are looking for that relaxing break, Oxfordshire has all the ingredients needed.The idyllic villages located in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds offer some of the most stunningscenes in England and our market towns are hidden gems and offer great localexperiences throughout the county.For itinerary ideas please visit our website www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com/group-travel

...Oxford to the wondrouscountryside of Oxfordshire, thereare so many fantastic things tosee and do here for all groups.

From thecity ofDreamingSpires...


Blenheim Palace

www.visitoxfordandoxfordshire.com

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Britain’s Heritage Cities - Oxford 5

� Broughton Castle will open especially for private group tours� Learn how to grow an orchid by a Chelsea Gold Winner at

Newington Nurseries� Take a curator tour of the Ashmolean Museum and discover more

about this fabulous museum� Didcot Railway offer evening visits for groups� Get up close and personal with the animals at the Cotswold

Wildlife Park� Be guided on a cycle with Bainton Bikes and see the fabulous

countryside of Oxfordshire3� Treasure Hunts and Ghosts Trails at Oxford Castle Unlocked

Oxford Castle Unlocked

Oxfordshire’s HiddenSecrets for Groups


In Oxford and Oxfordshire you will findaccommodation to suit all budgets from5 star city centre hotels to family runB&B's and boating holidays on the RiverThames. We have places to stay to suitgroups of all sizes.

Our wide selection ofaccommodation in and aroundOxfordshire, offer some greatfacilities to help you relax. Enjoy agame of golf or treat yourself to aluxury spa in one of our manyquality hotels which all welcomegroups – The Oxfordshire Golf Hoteland Spa and the Bicester Hotel Golfand Spa. Try The Old Swan andMinster Mill in the beautifulOxfordshire Cotswolds or the awardwinning Bay Tree Hotel in thestunning market town of Burford. Ifyou’re looking to be located in the centre of the county for easy access to allour great attractions, then try The Deddington Arms Hotel or Heythrop Park Resort.

You are spoilt for choice in the centre of Oxford for hotels. Looking for 5 starquality? Then try the Macdonald Randolph Hotel and visit the relaxing Morsebar, or if you want to be locked away, stay in one of the converted cell roomsat the Oxford Malmaison and try to escape! Cotswold Lodge Hotel and BestWestern Linton Lodge are a stones throw from the centre.

The Oxford Hotel, Hawkwell House and Four Pillars Hotel also offer excellentretreats for groups.

Accommodationin Oxfordshire

Macdonald Randolph Hotel


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6 Britain’s Heritage Cities - Carlisle

Experience year-round events andactivities to suit all ages and stay inquality, affordable accommodation.Venture a little further afield andexperience nearby Hadrian’s Wall andother rural delights.

In its 2000 year history, Carlisle hasseen Celts, Romans, warring familiesand invading armies leave a legacy foryou to explore. In Carlisle’s HistoricQuarter, there’s a generous helping ofculture. Here, you will find a castle,

cathedral and museums in a compactarea, criss crossed with ancientthoroughfares.

The magnificent Castle, founded in1092 by William the Conqueror’s son,stands as testament to years of feudingover the English-Scottish border.Overlooking the River Eden, it oncewitnessed the incarceration of Mary,Queen of Scots. Within the castle’sinner ward lies Cumbria’s MilitaryMuseum.

Carlisle Cathedral is the peaceableface of Carlisle’s past. Founded in 1122it is an example of ecclesiasticalexcellence with beautiful grounds withstained glass windows from the 14th -20th centuries, fine wood carving andBrougham Triptych altarpiece and aspectacular and distinctive ceiling.

Tullie House Museum & Art Galleryis a must see and boasts a diverserange of history, arts and culture.Browse the Jacobean Old Tullie Houseand continue through the ages takingin all five fantastic galleries offering awealth of exhibits from fun, interactiveactivities, to super modern touringexhibitions. Do not miss the RomanFrontier Gallery – a permanentshowcase of the museums Romancollection including items on loan fromthe British Museum.

The beauty of Carlisle is its ability toblend unique heritage with all themodern day facilities of a vibrant citycentre - there’s a cosmopolitan feelwithin the old walled city. The city

centre hosts an array of pavementcafes from which to sit and watch theworld go by or take a well earnedbreak whilst shopping or browsing.Shopping is an absolute delight withsuperb department stores, high streetnames, small boutiques & craft shopsunique to Carlisle, all rubbing shouldersamongst a tree lined, flower deckedpedestrianised area. Check out theLanes Shopping Centre or the splendidtraditional Victorian Market Hall.

Carlisle is often host to a number ofInternational street markets throughoutthe year, not forgetting the verypopular Christmas markets andFarmer’s Markets on the first Friday ofeach month.

Carlisle is perfectly located close tothe Scottish Border and The LakeDistrict and enjoys excellent transportlinks, beautiful parkland and rural areas.

Discover Carlisle & Hadrian’s Wall country


With its wealth of attractions, Carlisle isperfectly located within a compact and visitorfriendly historic quarter. Enjoy the ambient feelof a city centre laden with shops, pavementcafes, bars, restaurants and nightclubs.



www.discovercarlisle.co.uk

Citadel at night Old Tullie House Carlisle Cathedral

Carlisle City Centre (Love Parks Week)

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Britain’s Heritage Cities - Durham 7


The city skyline presents the visitor withone of the most stunning citypanoramas in Europe, with DurhamCathedral and Castle (a UNESCO WorldHeritage Site) keeping watch over thewinding streets below. DurhamCathedral is regarded as one of theworld's finest buildings and shares thepeninsula with Durham Castle, one ofBritain's largest and best preservedNorman strongholds.

Visit the wonderful Crook Hall - hometo quintessentially English gardens,Durham University's Botanic Garden setamongst beautiful woodlands on thesouthern outskirts of the city, theDurham Light Infantry Museum -acclaimed as one of the finestregimental museums in the country, andDurham University's Oriental Museum,where you can come face to face withthe coffin of an Egyptian cat!

The banks of the winding River Wearbelow provide a peaceful retreat forwalks and boat trips or rowing in theheart of the City. Durham is anextraordinarily green city, with manyquiet retreats and spaces in which to

escape and reflect.As well as an abundance of activities

to do in the day, you will find that theevenings in Durham City are rich inentertainment with modern theatre,intimate restaurants and homely pubs.

Leaving the city behind, newexperiences are waiting for you in thestunning scenery of the Durham Dales,the Vale of Durham and Durham’sHeritage Coast, all of which offer theperfect opportunity to get outdoors andactive or hands on with history.

Step back in time to 1913 at Beamish- the Living Museum of the North, tosee how the region’s industrial past hasshaped the modernity of today. If youcrave culture, The Bowes Museum, abuilding as impressive as the exhibitsinside, houses a stunning collection ofEuropean fine and decorative arts.

Durham’s offer lies in its fascinatinghistory, rich heritage and stunninglandscapes. Located only 3 hours fromLondon by train, Durham sits proudly atthe heart of the North East of England,acting as a perfect base from which toexplore the wider region.

Durham is one of the world’s most fascinating andvaried counties, with wild coastline and blissfullypeaceful countryside cradling the spectacular peninsulaof the city itself. Durham is a jewel that seamlesslycombines a medieval past with a modern vibrancy.

www.thisisdurham.com

Durham: Dramatic,delicious and divine

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8 Britain’s Heritage Cities - Lincoln


A visit into the Cathedral is an essential on anyitinerary. A range of tours are available, from floor toroof top and the Wren Library is a must see. Visitorscan buy a Visit Lincoln Pass that represents savingson admission prices into the Cathedral, Castle andBishop's Palace.

The atmosphere is magical - and can be toppedoff with a stay at The Lincoln Hotel with roomsoffering stunning views of the Cathedral. You candine in style too at the award winning Green RoomRestaurant and enjoy a meal prepared using locallysource Lincolnshire produce.

Complementing this rich history and heritage isLincoln's vibrant waterfront, cultural and high streetareas. Packed with shops, venues, bars and

restaurants and a lively marina, this is a side toLincoln that is lesser known.

The annual events and festivals programmemeans there is nearly always something going on inthe city, with great gigs, stand up and moreperforming in our venues.

Just outside the city, visitors can enjoy DoddingtonHall & Gardens, a range of parks and nature reservesand the fascinating Lincoln Road Transport Museum.

Lincoln has a wide selection of accommodation tosuit every budget with the recent opening of theDoubleTree by Hilton and the imminent arrival of acity centre Premier Inn. For more information, www.visitlincoln.com Follow @visit_lincoln

Steeped in History; Brimming with LifeLincoln is one of Europe's must see historic cities. The Cathedral Quarter not onlyboasts one of the finest examples of medieval architecture in the breathtakingCathedral - but also Lincoln Castle, built by William the Conqueror and the MedievalBishop's Palace. These world class attractions are located in the uphill area of Lincoln,where cobbled streets are lined with independent boutiques and places to eat.

www.visitlincoln.com City sightseeing tour in front of Lincoln Cathedral

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Britain’s Heritage Cities - York 9


You can now take a mouth-watering journey anddiscover how York became the UK's home of chocolate atYork's newest visitor attraction - York’s CHOCOLATE Story.

Watch the Chocolatiers at work in captivatingchocolate-making demonstrations, where you'll get totaste some of their delicious creations!

Check out the new Chocolate Trailwww.visityork.org/chocolate or collect your copy of thetrail at the Visit York Information Centre.

York Minster Revealed project is a five-year projectgenerously supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF).

This will include the unveiling of an elliptical stained-glass Orb (October 2012), and interactive galleries with aonce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see, at close range,some of the magnificently restored panels of the GreatEast Window, England's artistic equivalent to the SistineChapel. Also improved access to the South Transept,

Undercroft, Treasury and Crypt will totally transform theexperience of visiting York Minster. (Spring 2013)

Mallard 75 – On 3 July 1938, Mallard raced down StokeBank at 126mph to set a new steam locomotive worldrecord. That record still stands. In 2013 the 75thanniversary of Mallard’s achievement is being celebratedwith a series of commemorative events including anever-before-seen line up of all six surviving A4s at theNational Railway Museum in July.

York Groups DeskThe York Groups Desk offers an accommodation

booking service for groups of 10 or more. We can alsoprovide detailed itineraries and event information andarrange tailor made walking tours of the city – a greatway to discover York’s hidden gems. Don’t forget to askus about York Pass, the perfect way to see the city.Available for 1, 2 or 3 days.

There's never been a better time to enjoy our lively, walled, riverside city with its beautiful historic streets,vibrant café culture, stunning museums, world class attractions and fabulous shopping. Try out the thrivingrestaurant, pub and café scene or a ghost walk in the most haunted city in Europe!

Time to explore, time to visit York

www.visityork.org The Shambles

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10 Britain’s Heritage Cities - Chester


The city is also home to the largest Roman

Amphitheatre in Britain where 7000 spectators

watched gladiators fight.

Chester celebrates the return of its word-famous

Mystery Plays in 2013 inspired by stories from The

Bible.

They’re being performed inside the 1000 year old

Cathedral for the first time in history.

The magical 700 year old extravaganza takes

place 26th June-13th July with performances at

7.30pm.

The audience can also dine in the Cathedral’s

Refectory, where monks used to take their meals.

Chester Mystery Plays are only performed every

5 years. Visit www.chestermysteryplays.com for

details.

It’s just one of a host of events

and festivals staged in the City every

year from plays in the park to ghosts

after dark.

You’ll find full details on

www.visitchester.com, plus the

latest where to stay information.

Check out Oddfellows, the latest

addition to Chester’s boutique

hotels offer.

Just outside the City is Chester Zoo, one of the

UK’s most popular attractions. Visit

www.chesterzoo.org for details.

Nearby is Cheshire Oaks Designer Outlet – the

UK’s largest – offering designer fashion and

accessories at desirable discounts plus a new M &

S store – the largest outside of London.

You’ll discover a host of stately homes, gardens

and canals around Chester including Tatton Park,

the most complete Georgian Estate in the country,

home to the perennial RHS Show (24th-28th July).

In 2013, Tatton Park is celebrating the life and

works of Beatrix Potter in 2013, featuring a series

of the artist’s original watercolours.

Its Biennial in 2014 will be centred on the roots

of myth and the nature of memory.

Ghosts, Mysteries and OddfellowsChester is a must-see treasure. Its 2000 years of heritage include the most complete City Walls in Britain,the oldest racecourse in the country and the unique two-tier Rows shopping galleries.

www.visitchester.com

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11


Royal Shakespeare CompanyOne of the world’s best-known theatre ensembles, the Royal Shakespeare

Company performs the works of Shakespeare, his contemporaries and new

writing, throughout the year in Stratford-upon-Avon.

At the heart of their new home, which reopened in November 2010, are two

thrust stage auditoria, the 1,000 seat Royal Shakespeare Theatre and 450 seat

Swan Theatre, bringing audiences and actors closer together in the best possible

setting to experience live theatre.

If you don’t have time to see a performance then why not enjoy the stunning

views from the Tower, discover theatrical secrets on a Theatre Tour, spend time

exploring the free exhibitions or enjoy freshly prepared, locally sourced food in the

new Rooftop Restaurant and Bar.

For details of what’s on, or to find out more about browsing the RSC’s home in

Stratford-upon-Avon please visit www.rsc.org.ukThe Shakespeare Houses

Visit one of the 5 Shakespeare Houses and Gardens - Shakespeare's Birthplace

is a fascinating house that offers a tantalising glimpse into Shakespeare's early

world. It's a special place that everyone should see at least once in their lifetime

or discover where the young William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne

Hathaway at her picturesque family home with stunning gardens. Each of the 5

houses has something for everyone.

Stratford-upon-Avon is the town where William Shakespeare was born and is buried. Every year, millions of peoplecelebrate his life and work by visiting the town. Situated in the heart of England, on the banks of the river Avon,Stratford attracts visitors from all over the world and there are many attractions in the town that can enhance your visit.

Stratford-Upon-Avon - Steeped in cultureand history in the heart of England

Britain’s Heritage Cities - Stratford-upon-Avon Britain’s Heritage Cities - Stratford-upon-Avon

www.discover-stratford.com


There is something to suit everyone and allbudgets - unique attractions, historic buildings,stately homes, idyllic villages, health spas, golf,leisure, cycle ways, vineyards, canals,undulating countryside and winding rivers.With so many things to do, see and experiencecome and Discover Stratford.

The RSC

Anne Hathaway’s Cottage

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Britain's Heritage Cities